James Smith calls out Henry McMaster over Trump's tariffs

Bob Montgomery Staff Writer @bmontgomeryshj

Wednesday

Jul 11, 2018 at 6:53 PMJul 11, 2018 at 6:54 PM

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful James Smith criticized Gov. Henry McMaster Wednesday for not taking a more active role in opposing “job-killing” tariffs imposed by the Trump administration that Smith says would hurt the state's economy.

“Job-killing tariffs are killing us,” Smith said during a campaign stop with running mate Mandy Powers Norrell at the Beacon Drive-In. “It will hurt our competitiveness. Years of efforts of previous governors are at risk.”

The state lawmaker from Columbia also stopped at Greer City Park where he and Norrell challenged the Republican governor to stand up against tariffs.

Smith said McMaster enjoyed the support of President Donald Trump to win the Republican nomination for governor, but he won’t try to persuade the president to change his mind about tariffs that companies like BMW and Volvo in South Carolina have said could hurt their bottom line and kill jobs.

“It’s a question of leadership and a governor who will stand up and say they’re against job-killing tariffs,” Smith said. “As governor, I’ll be there to make sure we’re not 30th in business, that we address our roads, high utility rates, schools. We need a more competitive tax structure.”

Smith cited a CNBC news report Tuesday that ranks states for their economic climate based on workforce, infrastructure, cost of doing business, economy, quality of life, technology and innovation, education, cost of living, access to capital and business friendliness. Texas ranked first as having the best business climate, while nearby Georgia ranked seventh and North Carolina ninth. South Carolina was ranked 30th.

McMaster, who was at a Charleston business’s 30th anniversary event Wednesday, said through a spokesman he has been in close contact with the president and his administration about the tariffs and how they may affect South Carolina companies.

“A lot of these measures have been proposed, not implemented,” he said. “This is a work in progress. I understand what the president is trying to do. And I support that he wants to see we have fair trade around the country."

McMaster added: “I can promise you all of us are doing all that we can to see that our businesses and industry remain strong and that we are doing all we can to see they are not hurt by these tariffs or any other actions.”

Smith also referred to a report by Reuters that automaker Volvo, which recently opened a $1.1 billion plant near Charleston, may cut back on the 4,000 jobs it promised because of its plans to export cars to China, which has imposed a 40 percent tariff on cars imported from the United States.

Tuesday, German automaker BMW stated its commitment to investing $600 million and adding 1,000 more jobs to its Spartanburg plant even as company officials have warned that tariffs could eventually affect jobs and sales down the line if recently imposed tariffs remain.

“I know BMW came out and said they stand by South Carolina, but (McMaster’s) silence on this issue has been deafening,” said Norrell, a Democratic state lawmaker from Lancaster. “But there’s not doubt our workers will be affected."

She added: “(McMaster) says he has the ear of the president. But if his policy is affecting workers and can’t use that to improve the life of South Carolinians, then what good is it?”

Joyce Harrison of Spartanburg, a retired school district media specialist, said she came to the Beacon to tell Smith to make healthcare more affordable for all residents if he becomes governor. She said she thinks Smith has a good chance of winning in November.

“I’m hoping there are many people like me who are concerned about the direction our country has taken under the Trump administration,” Harrison said. “I hope we can return to more kindness and consideration for others. Our world needs to embrace rather than build walls.”

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